Dog handlers work for police, security firms, army, customs service, etc and are responsible for handling trained dogs. Dog handlers are responsible for the care and control of the trained dogs. The dog and the handler together work as a team and prevent crimes, bomb explosions, etc. They are also sometimes responsible for gathering critical pieces of evidence from crime scenes – burglary, kidnapping, murder, smuggling, etc. The dogs are also used in disaster recovery scenes, where the dogs are helpful in locating missing persons.

The dog and dog handler also work at prisons, guarding the criminals, searching for explosives or hidden drugs, etc. The dogs are also useful while chasing criminals. Army uses dogs to detect mines and explosives, while security firms employ dogs and dog handlers for guarding property and at public events to ensure security. In customs and revenue sectors, the dogs are used to detect illegal drugs and addictives. A trained dog handler will be employed for variety of responsible tasks, which can also be risky at times.